I Do Weddings

If there is one feeling that is familiar to all brides, it is nervousness. Even if they only get it the day before the wedding, every bride experiences it. It may not even be because of the relationship. Most brides are sure that they do want to marry their fiance before they even say, “Yes!”

It helps if you have actually seen the preparation for a wedding before. Maybe you’ve observed the nuptials of a sibling, or a cousin or a close, family friend? They don’t need to have been major members of the wedding party. Just a glimpse from the sidelines can still help.

Since not everyone is fortunate enough to have been present for the making of the wedding, some assistance is called for to help the bride get ready. Thankfully there are many available research materials and resources beginning with the internet and articles such as this. We’ll do our best to help you get set for the big day.

It would really help though to see an actual wedding put together without having to wade through weeks and months to see the finished product before you can start on your own. It helps to have visuals and not just the imagination. That is why we should all say thank you to the lifestyle network for putting together the show called “I Do Diaries”.

The show literally follows the creation of a couples dream wedding. You can watch the show and get a hundred ideas on things to use for your wedding. Each couple after all is very unique.

They feature different places, different wedding planners and different vendors. You may just come across the people whose work you feel is perfect to bring your dream wedding to life by watching the show. That alone would be a very big help.

Don’t assume that all the featured weddings are expensive. There is an episode of the show that is called “Beg, Steal or Borrow” where master wedding guru, Katie Brown, has to put together the couple’s dream wedding with a budget of zero. Yes you read right, no money. Watch how she does it so that you can utilize her tricks to have a great wedding that doesn’t break your pocket.

There are even episodes where best friends or sisters are featured where each gets to plan and prepare the other’s wedding. Talk about having to know the other person well and putting individuality into a wedding! It is amazing how they pull it off.

The show can help bring out your level of creativity as you discover new concepts or trends through the show. There are a lot of fantastic professionals who are showcased in the series. You get to see how they work to put together special events similar to yours and how they deal with unexpected problems as they crop up.

If only you could actually taste the food as you watch the participants in the show do, you’d be even better prepared. You’ll get your chance. After all, the TV show is just to get you started. The best is yet to come for you.

[tags]weddings,wedding planning,wedding ideas,tv shows,tv[/tags]

Pets at the Wedding

You first met on the street outside your apartment. He was walking his dog, Scamp, and you got tangled up in the leash. Though you weren’t exactly thrilled at the time, you managed to become friends and fall in love. Cupid came in the form of man’s best friend.

Now, you’re getting ready to walk down the aisle and become a family. You want all the members of your family present. That includes Scamp, after all, he played a major part in getting the two of you together.

Weddings with pets aren’t as uncommon as they used to be. Society has become more accepting of the fact that we have strong bonds to our pets that makes them truly family.It does mean, however, that additional preparations must be made.

First off, you need to keep in mind that not all venues will allow you to bring in your pet, no matter how small. This includes most hotels and churches. You would need to look for a place that will allow you to have your four legged friend present. It is best that you are upfront with your plan to include your pet when you make your inquiries and discussions with all the vendors assisting you for your wedding.

The kind of pet you have is also something to consider when choosing your venue. Toy dogs such as toy poodles aren’t very big and look like stuffed toys. In fact, a well trained pet may sit so still that they are mistaken for dolls and really aren’t that much of a problem.

On the other hand, big dogs like german shepherds or rottweiler are bound to scare those of your guests and waiters who are not used to dogs. You don’t want to give anyone a heart attack do you? That is one of the reasons why restaurants or hotels have a no pet policy.

Let’s not even talk about if your pet is a lizard, rat or iguana. Reptiles and predators make a lot of people nervous. Have mercy on your guests.

There is also the question of how well trained is your pet. Are they capable of behaving during the ceremony and reception? Your wedding would definitely be spoiled if you had a barking dog running after a stray cat, crashing through the decor. If they aren’t trained, it may be better to keep them at home.

Of course, it would help if you have someone who can take care of your pet during the entire event. You may want to hire someone but it is best if the handler is someone who your pet is familiar with and can properly care for him. A pet handler will ensure that you and your pet will have no worries about his care on the wedding day.

You also have to decide what role your pet will play during your ceremony. Is he your best dog or ring bearer? Will she be your flower dog? It is important that you decide what role your pet will play and practice him in his role.Don’t forget your pet’s suit or gown. After all, it is a special occasion.
[tags]wedding,wedding planning,pets,dogs[/tags]

What in the World is a Groom’s Cake?

Have you been hearing this term but haven’t had the nerve to ask what it is? Then you’ll be glad to know that the groom’s cake is our topic today. We definitely want all you engaged couples up to date on the current trends for weddings.

The Groom’s cake is actually not a new concept but may be unheard of where you live. It is said to have been created by French bakers in order that the wedding cake, which traditionally was broken over the newly wed couple’s head, could stay intact. They used the groom’s cake instead. Later, the breaking of the cake evolved into the slicing of the cake. This change resulted in the groom’s cake becoming less popular as its purpose faded.

The groom’s cake has now enjoyed a resurgence of its popularity. Many brides now wish to acknowledge the uniqueness of their grooms with these cakes. These cakes after all reflect not the bride’s taste but that of the groom.

No longer is it necessary to stick to the traditional fruit or chocolate cake. Groom’s cakes can be made in the groom’s favorite flavor. If his favorite is lemon, that can be arranged.

Even the look of the groom’s cake is all his. Some groom’s cakes use the basic cake shape and just use a cake topper to reflect the groom’s special interest. Other cakes are actually shaped to match the groom’s special preferences. There are cakes that are football shaped, shaped like a stadium, shaped like cars, shaped like an ambulance…the list goes on. There are as many choices of cake designs as there are grooms. All you really need is a great imagination and a great baker.

Who chooses the groom’s cake? There really isn’t any hard and fast rule on this. Some brides are the ones who select this, hoping to show their new husbands how much they know them. The design therefore is kept secret until the big day.

Other couples prefer that the groom make the selection. After all it is his cake. He should have a cake that he loves taste, looks and all.

When do you serve the groom’s cake? The groom’s cake can be served at his stag party. It can be served at the rehearsal dinner. It can be served at the wedding. It can even be served to the wedding party as they relax now that the wedding reception is completely finished.

You may want to follow the other tradition of the groom’s cake. The groom’s cake isn’t a big cake. Traditionally it is mean to be sliced and placed in boxes, which are then given to all the unmarried ladies attending the wedding. The slice of cake is meant to be placed under their pillow so that they will dream of their groom (whoever it shall be).

Tradition aside, the cake makes for a great alternative dessert to the wedding cake. It can also be a great souvenir of the wedding. So, more cake anyone?

Marriage Counseling

You feel like you’ve known each other all your lives even though you’ve only known each other a few months or years, maybe even just a couple of weeks. You look into each others eyes and see kismet or fate. All starry eyed and dreamy you start planning for happily ever after.

Ok maybe you aren’t just being starry eyed. Maybe you have been living together for a while and truly believe it is time to make the union a legal and formal bond. That is absolutely wonderful! No matter what anyone says, there is something special about being married to each other and not just living together.

Now, in some countries the government will not require the couple to undergo any marriage seminars. In most religions and in countries that do not have divorce however marriage counseling is actually mandatory before couples can get married. After all in these countries or faiths, marriage truly is meant to be for life. That being the case, everyone wants to make sure that the pair goes in with their eyes wide open and not covered by rose colored glasses.

Marriage is no joke. It can be fun, exciting, sweet, passionate and absolutely wonderful. It can also be a lot of work. Keep in mind that you are adjusting your life to another person’s; someone who you love but is still different from you in a number of ways. Marriage can be a rude awakening for some. It isn’t only about the gown and the ceremony and saying, “I do“.

Face it folks, we don’t always, in fact more often than not, we don’t listen to our parents. They may or may not be good examples of how marriages work. They may or may not be together so you may not have a real picture of what is involved, just the glamorized ideal that movies and books show to the general public.

There are organizations like Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WME) that try to give couples a real look at being married. They have special courses such as the evenings for the engaged where a couple meets regularly with an affianced pair in the WME or “encountered” couples home. The WME couple will discuss various things that the affianced pair may or may not have thought about yet. For example, what is the significance of money in the relationship? Is money supposed to be pooled and shared or should it be only the male’s income that is spent since he is the breadwinner or head of the family?

How about work? Should the wife continue to work if the husband is earning well enough to support them both? Would they prefer that she stay home and become mother and wife full time? Why?

These questions may seem trivial to some but in the long run, these can be major issues that can lead to separation or divorce. It is best to discuss these matters before any vows are made not after. It can save you a lot of heartache. Why not find out what are the available marriage counseling groups in your area? What have you got to lose? They may even help to make your good relationship great.

[tags]marriage,wedding,wedding preparation[/tags]

Parental Approval

In our modern age, here is the way relationships are made. Boy and girl sign up for an online dating service or for speed dating. When they finally have a real date they find that they do enjoy each others company. After a few dates spread out over a couple of months, the couple decides that they can make it work and become more serious. They introduce their new beau to their friends. If the guy pops the question and the girl decides to go for it, they announce to their respective families that they are getting married.

Sometimes the match is a great one indeed. That however is the rare case. More often than not, such impetuous and whirlwind relationships don’t last, not due to any fault of the dating services who introduced them but because the relationship may not have been built on a solid foundation.

Often we take our parents for granted. We get to the point where we believe that we are all grown up and capable of making our own decisions. We don’t want their help or their interference, thank you. We begin to feel that we have outgrown the need for their counsel.

In most cases that may be true but not when we talk about married life or happily ever after. Generally speaking they are most valuable to us at times like these, when the crossroads come. Though we are still the ones who will make the final decision, their life experience can help us make clearer choices, whether or not we disagree with their point of view.

Seriously think about it. When you bring anyone home to meet them, it may be true that they tell you after that he or she isn’t good enough for you. Before you get angry, stop and think about what they said. Is it really true? Could it be that they are right and perceive a vital characteristic that may lead to the failure of your relationship?

There is a very valid and logical reason why the old fashioned practice of asking for the parents blessing is a tradition. Take out the factor that marriages then were arranged and made for increased wealth, and you’ll find that parents today still look for the same things. They look for the person who will accept their child for the treasure they are, and who will treat them as such. The last thing that they want is for the special person that they raised to have less than what they provided.

In general, our loving parents will want only what is best for us. They will want the person we marry to be someone who will truly give us a match made in heaven and never leave us in need of anything. Keep in mind that no matter how old we get, to them we are always their children. Ask for their blessing, they love you and just wish the best for you. Let them be a part of your decision.

[tags] weddings, relationships [/tags]

« Previous Page — Next Page »